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First Fishlake winter work party 2018

On Wednesday 24th October we had our first work party of the winter at Fishlake Meadows. It was a wonderful sunny day and incredibly mild, so not very wintery at all! Eleven volunteers came out to give their time helping with management of Fishlake Meadows. They were all very excited to be helping out to be getting the work parties started for the winter.

Lovely sunny day for scrub cutting

The task for the day was to improve the views at the viewing screens which are at the end of the newly laid and opened permissive path, and also to do some scrub cutting along the new permissive path. The wonderful volunteers managed to clear the willows from in front of the screen overlooking the reeds (photo of the view above). This has created a lovely view in to the reedbed and should allow the chance to see reed warbler, sedge warbler and reed bunting up close. Photos below show how the screens looked before and after, it turned out to be an awful lot of willow that needed to be cleared.

Right hand screen before scrub cutting

Right hand screen now cleared

In front of the screen overlooking the water we were able to cut the willow sapling and the reeds, this has made the view of the water much clearer and wider. Sightings from this screen include gadwall, kingfisher, great white egret, hobby and teal.

Left hand screen with willow sapling blocking the view

Left hand screen once reeds and willow cut down

We then moved on to thinning out some of the scrub along the permissive path. This allowed us to open up some views of the ponds along the path too. The scrub that was cut was used to build some dead hedges. As these rot down they create wonderful habitat for birds and invertebrates. The volunteers were very pleased with the results of their hard work and are looking forward to the next work parties.

Volunteers working hard together to cut willow

Pond now visible from the path between the willow scrub

If you would like to get involved with the work parties or other volunteering at Fishlake Meadows, please get in touch with me at jo.armson@hiwwt.org.uk.